August 17, 2026 • 12:01 AM EDT
Updated 8 days ago
So here’s the bad news if you’re a Cardinals fan or thinking about their odds come September. Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love picked up a high-ankle sprain during Arizona’s preseason win against the Raiders. That’s usually the sort of injury that doesn’t just hurt, it lingers. Now the Cardinals are staring at the prospect of heading into their season opener short-handed at a critical position, especially since they’re counting on Love to be a difference-maker for them right out of the gate.
According to Yahoo Sports, Love was injured after getting dropped awkwardly on a catch near the goal line. While he managed to play 23 snaps and rack up 58 rushing yards plus 14 more receiving, the aftermath means he’s now expected to miss the rest of the preseason. You can see why that’s a worry: a high-ankle sprain isn’t the sort of knock you just walk off, particularly for a runner whose game relies on sharp cuts and acceleration.
Now, Arizona’s coaching staff, led by Mike LaFleur, hasn’t committed to how long Love will be out. The only sure thing is more tests are coming next week. There’s a bit of hope left – reports suggest the team thinks there’s a shot Love could be fit for Week 1. But if you’re holding a Cardinals futures ticket or considering fantasy lineups, you have to treat his status as genuinely questionable for the opener against the Chargers on September 13.
This all matters because, frankly, Love was picked third overall to be a game-changer, and his 1,372 yards and 21 touchdowns last season at Notre Dame tell you the type of firepower he brings. The Cardinals are coming off a rough 3-14 season and a coaching change, and you don’t burn such a high draft pick except to anchor your offense around a player. If Love isn’t fully healthy, Arizona’s run game will be limited – and that puts added pressure on a team still searching for an identity after hiring LaFleur for a bounce-back season. Don’t forget, high-ankle sprains have a bit of a reputation for tricky recoveries, and those first few weeks of the schedule can set a tone for the rest of the year.
The play itself didn’t look good on the replay, as some pointed out – Love’s feet got pinned awkwardly, and you could almost hear the crowd’s mood shift. Yet even after that, he stayed on the field a while longer, finishing with a strong performance before the injury essentially shut down his preseason campaign. Why was he in so long? LaFleur was upfront about it:
“It’s a rookie that hadn’t played. Knowing that, not to share too many secrets because I haven’t said it with the players yet, but knowing that it was about what it was going to be in terms of how many games these guys were going to play for what we were looking for. So, yeah, that’s what the thought was.”
That quote tells you the staff wanted Love to get game reps and build confidence. He did, to a point. LaFleur added his confidence “went through the roof after that third drive,” which only makes this injury more frustrating for everybody involved. The Cardinals won, sure, but the bigger question is whether their main rookie weapon will even play when the wins matter for real.
- Jeremiyah Love sustained a high-ankle sprain in the preseason game against the Raiders
- The injury occurred after a tackle near the goal line
- Love is not expected to play for the rest of the preseason
- Cardinals are hopeful but not certain about his availability for Week 1 vs. Chargers
- Love delivered 58 rushing yards and 14 receiving in the game before the injury
- Coach Mike LaFleur said he wanted the rookie to get additional playing time for experience
- Love was drafted No. 3 overall out of Notre Dame to play a major role
- The injury puts question marks around Arizona’s offensive game plan to start the season
Why bettors should care about Love’s injury
High-ankle sprains are no joke, especially for running backs who thrive on quick moves. Even if Love suits up in Week 1, history shows these injuries sap some speed and explosiveness in the early weeks after return. Short-term, Arizona’s run game projection takes a hit—and that matters for anyone looking at player props or team totals against a tough early schedule. Monitor reports all preseason, but plan as if he’s closer to 50/50 for the opener until you see him practicing.
Key takeaways
- Jeremiyah Love is unlikely to play again this preseason
- The Cardinals are hopeful but far from confirmed on his Week 1 status
- Arizona loses critical prep time with its expected feature back
- Betting the Cards’ run-based props gets riskier with Love’s unclear health
- LaFleur’s willingness to play his top pick shows faith in Love, but this injury exposes their depth concerns
- Bettors and fantasy players should monitor team injury reports closely
- Love’s first few games—even if active—could see limited snap counts or production
- Arizona’s rebound chances in 2026 hinge heavily on Love’s availability
- If you’re weighing Arizona futures, factor in that even a minor setback could impact early results
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